_THE CHURCH IN SARDIS_ ‘And unto the angel of the Church in Sardis write.’ Revelation 3:1 The epistle is one of almost unqualified condemnation. The reputation of the Church in Sardis stood high, but it was a false and hollow reputation. There was great need of urgent repentance. Except there wer... [ Continue Reading ]
_A FALSE REPUTATION_ ‘I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.’ Revelation 3:1 In God’s sight the Church of Sardis was like the corpse of the ancient Scythian—men reverenced her, spoke of her, treated her as a Church full of life and health, and all the while she wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA_ ‘And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write.’ Revelation 3:7 The suggestive phrase ‘Thou hast a little power’ is descriptive of the men and women of humble standing, whose opportunities of service are narrowly restricted, to whom no great chance presents its... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHURCH’S HISTORY_ ‘I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name.’ Revelation 3:8 How would the angel of the Church of England have been bidden to write to us? Would h... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA_ ‘And unto the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write.’ Revelation 3:14 The tone of the Apocalyptic letter is one of severe, and even ironical, censure. The Laodiceans were not as those who had never been touched by the heat of the Divine Spirit. It would have been be... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DIVINE MERCHANTMAN*_ ‘I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.’ Revelation 3:18 No doubt the scen... [ Continue Reading ]
_LOVE’S CHASTENING_ ‘As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be Zealous, therefore, and repent.’ Revelation 3:19 Let us think of sickness and suffering in what is undoubtedly one of its most important aspects, as chastisement for sin. However it comes upon us, and whether it comes as the direct... [ Continue Reading ]
_FULL SURRENDER_ ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me.’ Revelation 3:20 These are the words of the Risen Christ, the Resurrection Lord, Who still stands in the midst of the seven golden can... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTIAN CONQUEROR_ ‘He that overcometh I will give to him to sit down with Me in My throne.’ Revelation 3:21 (R.V.) This is the last of seven honours set before the Christian conquerors in the epistles to the seven Churches, and the throne of which this blessing speaks is itself described... [ Continue Reading ]